If a day is a long time in politics, then eight months is a lifetime.
In May 2024, the administration of then-U.S. President Biden released a policy statement with a commitment to advancing the responsible development of the voluntary carbon market (VCM).
Today, that page on the White House website no longer exists.
Within hours of being sworn in, re-elected President Donald Trump said that he would withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement for the second time, block finance to clean energy projects, and speed up fossil fuel projects.
These decisions don’t just leave a void on the global stage; they serve as reminders of the fragile state of international climate cooperation.
It’s a stark contrast to the mood in 2015, where the consensus in Paris felt like a giant leap forward. After decades of disagreements between governments, world leaders finally agreed to limit temperature rise to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Fast forward to 2025: the world emerges from its hottest year on record, with global temperatures reaching 1.5°C above the 1850–1900 average, and the country with the second-highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions (the U.S.) is stepping back from international climate leadership.
But all this proves one thing: climate solutions must come from everywhere, and we cannot rely solely on government action to drive change.
In fact, we have seen tangible action on climate change taken largely by those outside of governments. The voluntary carbon market has been built precisely on this premise.
And for the past two decades, the VCM has demonstrated its ability to deliver real, lasting, and meaningful climate action.
It has channeled billions of dollars into projects that reduce emissions, restore ecosystems, and build resilience in communities on the frontlines of climate change.
These projects have thrived not because of government mandates, but because of a shared understanding among businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals that waiting for climate policy to address the climate crisis risks losing everything.
In this moment of political retreat, the VCM stands out as a resilient force, as it’s a mechanism that doesn’t depend on the whims of elections or shifts in political priorities.
It continues to support mangrove restoration in Pakistan, providing income and security for families who are working hard to maintain critical coastal ecosystems. It enables smallholder farmers in Kenya to plant millions of trees that sequester carbon and revitalize degraded lands.
The U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is, without question, a significant blow to efforts to keep disastrous global warming at bay.
But it also reminds us why the VCM exists in the first place: to fill the gaps in advancing climate action when public funding falters, drive innovation when regulation lags, and ensure progress isn’t halted by political inertia.
Critics often question whether the VCM can deliver at scale, and the media is often quick to point out the market’s flaws. But the evidence is clear. Projects certified with standards programs like Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program have reduced billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide while protecting biodiversity, creating jobs, and strengthening local economies. These outcomes are not abstract: they’re tangible and measurable.
After all, the most successful carbon projects don’t simply reduce emissions: they address systemic challenges. They provide economic incentives for activities like restoring forests and climate-friendly agricultural practices while also empowering women, protecting endangered species, and increasing the climate resilience of landscapes. They are a reminder that climate action isn’t just about decarbonization; it’s about creating a better world.
Climate-related impacts continue to plague the globe, but we also have the potential to meet this crisis head-on and to do so much more.
In this pivotal moment, the world has a choice. We can prevaricate, or we can step up, leveraging every tool we have to build a future where action speaks louder than rhetoric.
The VCM, tested by trial and errors and strengthened by its results, is ready to lead the charge.
The question is: can we as champions run this race together, scaling it up so it can have the necessary impact?
Mandy Rambharos is the chief executive officer of Verra.